Yonderly

I'm rather with obsessed with productivity, and before school ends and summer begins, I throw myself into list making. I make lists of books I want to read, projects I want to start/complete/plan, exercise classes I want to attend. It's a heady experience, and I'm always sure I'll follow through this time. And then I don't. Suddenly, I look around and realize it's July, and senior year is only a month away. Yikes.

All too often, however, I'm simply being hard on myself. Sure, I'm not working as hard as I do during the school year, but I have accomplished some of my goals. I've certainly been reading a lot, though my plan to concentrate on Victorian literature went down the drain when I realized I couldn't give up my modern YA. I've been learning, too, through a variety of avenues, including an online class and new experiences. Hey, I even started blogging! And that's been on the back burner for awhile. Still…I could be doing more.

Now that I've been bonked over the head with my calendar, I'm making a few changes to ensure I spend the rest of my summer in a productive and creative mode. And so far, I'm happy with the results. So without further ado, I give you my tips!

To Boost Productivity:

Wake up earlier. If you let me, I'd sleep the day away. I'm a teenager, and I rank sleep up there with chocolate on the awesome scale. But I don't need this extra sleep. 9 hours is my max, but I can still healthily function with 7 or 8. Getting up early kickstarts my day, and I just feel like I have more time to plan my day and get things done. So I set that alarm clock.

Fuel up. After a a week full of doughnut runs and Sonic milkshakes, I actually feel heavy and sluggish. Maybe my weight's the same, but my mental and physical capabilities are not. When I eat clean food like fresh fruits and veggies, nuts, whole grains, and seafood, I have more energy and positive thoughts. Also, hydration! It's clinically proven that drinking plenty of water improves feelings of exhaustion.

Break a sweat. I'm definitely not an exercise junkie. In fact, I often find it tedious. But when I do get my daily dose of exercise, I feel energized and happier. Elle Woods can tell you--it's those endorphins! Not to mention, exercise can act as a "good" form of procrastination. While I'm working on a writing project, I often procrastinate with a run around the neighborhood. If I feel a writing block coming on, I get my blood pumping. My often than not, my brain starts churning again.

Put it in writing. Make a contract with yourself. I'm sure some of you have heard this before, but it actually works because you're holding yourself accountable. I usually follow this outline: By the end of (insert time period) I will have completed (insert task). Signed, Me. The shorter the time period and the smaller the task, the more likely you'll be to complete it. And that leads into the next tip.

Break it down. Some projects are huge, and their scope is overwhelming. On some projects, I don't even know where to start. Breaking everything done into smaller, doable tasks makes the project less daunting. Writing a novel? Great. Start with research. Graduate to brainstorming. Make lists, outlines, charts. Then write, piece by piece.

Take on responsibility. Put yourself out there and take on ajob that affects others. If you have people depending on you, you're more likely to get the job done. Unfortunately, we're a lot less courteous to ourselves. I can't tell you how many times I've let myself down.

Prove them wrong! Everyone has had a dream-crusher in their lives. Negative Nellies that pointed out internal flaws and external obstacles. Use your indignation! Prove to them that yes, you most certainly can and will.

To Boost Creativity:

Read poetry. This may be more applicable to the writers out there, but even non-writers can benefit from it. Read poetry that questions, accuses, weeps. Poetry that holds beauty and truth. A well turned phrase always prompts me to write.

Lose yourself in the woods. There is majesty in nature, and standing in the face of it all is both humbling and inspiring. Get outside and drink the world in.

Hang with the cool kids. And by cool kids, I mean all those quirky characters that are passionate about something. Fangirls/boys, artists, authors, musicians, poets, teachers…Anyone who wants to talk on a subject for ages and never grows bored. And remember that it doesn't have to be artsy. I once had a wonderful conversation with a farmer, who told me the story of his heirloom seeds, which prompted me to write a piece about a family farm.

Experiment with different mediums. I'm a writer, but I'm not defined by that term. I've always been fascinated by the beauty of dance, and I plan to attend adult ballet classes in college. My dance research has spurred quite a lot of creative energy. So go forth and explore different arts and creative pursuits!

Get to know what you never knew. Take advantage of your local library and local experts. Research a different culture, time period, art form, war tactics, historical figure…Anything! I've spent that last week researching timber floating in 19th century Canada. It's completely fascinating, and I've found fodder for a story idea...

People-watch. This is especially fun at festivals and other colorful, people-filled events. What you see might inspire a character for your work of fiction, a theme for your newest painting, or a question to pose in a personal essay.

Kill the critic. I'll rewrite a sentence a thousand times because I want it to be perfect. But this perfection that our inner critics seek doesn't exist. Don't allow yourself to get hung up over a single sentence. You'll never finish, and you'll get so frustrated that you'll be tempted to quit.

Surround yourself with beautiful things. Working in an environment that is conducive to your creativity is vital. Whether you do your work at a desk or a studio, create a space that inspires.

I hope you'll join me and take charge of your summer! Good luck!

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Emily is a student chasing the writerly lifestyle and blogging along the way.